A SERPENT'S VENOM
II
That afternoon was scorchingly hot, summer at London was far more painful than summer at York. I spent most of the day interacting with the youngest orphans, teaching them how to properly plant seeds and how to care for them.
You see here at Wools, every single one of the people that live within its boundaries has a duty to keep the orphanage functional and tidy. On the weekdays it would be just like a normal school but on the weekends and holidays both the children and staffs would do their own share of workload. That afternoon, Glynnis and I were put in charge of the gardening duties along with many little helpers. Glynnis as well as Tom and Ophelia are the oldest orphans that still currently reside at Wools. Although it is understandable why Tom and Ophelia have still not been adopted, it is a far more complicated issue why Glynnis was still there. You see, she's already been adopted quite a few times but she was always abused and exploited. I remembered seeing her fresh bruises from her last adoption, her lips busted and her bone showing from starvation, that was two years ago, when she was 14 years old- I didn't want to think that something far less than obvious happened. I think that was the time when we became such good friends, I can safely say that out of school Glynnis was definitely my closest friend, she was a kind person who didn't deserve those horrible things that happened to her.
"You alright there Astrid?" I heard Glynnis ask as I stood holding an empty bucket, not realising that I was staring into space.
"I'm so sorry," I replied smiling at her pasty white face, "The heat is just drying out my brain."
"It is rather hot, if you want we could go inside and do something else."
"Oh I would rather stay out here, away from Ophelia."
Glynnis laughed whole heartedly, "That girl is like a witch that is always onto you."
"The problem is I don't understand why." I said as a crouched down to plant seeds.
"It's because of Tom." Glynnis replied smiling at me before stealing a glance of Tom Riddle who was chopping wood for cooking.
I scoffed, "It's because of Riddle?"
"Astrid, look at him," she said cheekily, "He's the most handsome man I've ever seen, he's so mysterious and intriguing, and so…. magnetic."
"Have you been bitten by something?" I said laughing as I slapped her arm softly.
"I'm merely copying Ophelia. You know that she loves him. She sees you as a threat you know." she smiled before contorting her face to far less appealing expression, "I on the other hand would condemn myself to hell if ever, and I repeat, if ever I caught myself being drawn to him."
"A threat, I don't even like him!" I replied so loudly that my neck began to sting from the stares I was getting.
"Shhh…" Glynnis reacted hastily, "He'll here you!" she whispered to my ear.
Then as I was about to say something, Mrs Coles came strolling outside as she shook a cow bell.
"I can't believe its afternoon tea already." I commented as I dusted soil off my working dress.
"Time flies when you're having fun!" Glynnis smiled at me- golly I miss her.
"Glynnis… Astrid… can we go nowwww?" asked little Tommy, his friend tugging behind him, "We're really hungry you see and we really can't stand another minute without fooood." I smiled as I listened to him speak, the tone of his voice constantly going up and down, and the way he drags the last word of his sentences.
"Ofcourse little Tommy, go on ahead before all the sandwiches run out!" Glynnis laughed as she patted the little boy's head before they all ran off, "Don't forget to wash your hands!"
"We woooon't!" Tommy shouted back.
Without another word Glynnis and I started cleaning, picking the shovels, buckets and containers of seeds that were scattered all over the garden. To be honest, cleaning wasn't hard at all but the heat was just terrifying. It's as if that with every step I take, the closer I get to fainting. While Glynnis tidied one end of the garden I took care of the other end, I was barely half way when I heard a voice behind me.
"Do you not do housework?" to my dismay, it was Tom Riddle. He looked at me questioningly then looked at the shovel and was lying carelessly in front of me. That day everything seemed to be so heavy when I handled it, but when I saw Riddle easily swinging the shovel pass his shoulder I was mentally amazed.
I looked at him tiredly, my eyelids heavy from I don't know what, but nevertheless I replied, "Ofcourse I do…" I replied stealing the shovel from him, "Its just so hot." I felt myself tilting sideways, like the Leaning Tower of Pizza, as if being slowly pulled by the metal gardening tool.
"Have you eaten?" he asked hinting concern as he pulled the shovel out of my hand.
"Uh…" I replied as I reached for his sweaty arms, "I don't believe I did… I was in such a hurry this morning…" as I said those words I didn't realise that I was slowly falling into his arms.
"You haven't eaten and you're out here working in the heat," he retorted as if trying to belittle me, "You stupid person." That was all he said before lifting me off the ground and hurrying me inside. I wanted yell at him, I wanted to wrestle him and question him why he did what he did but my body just wouldn't allow me to do anything.
"Hey… I don't appreciate being called stupid!" I mumbled hoping he would be able to understand me, "I want you to put me down right now!" I said as I slapped his face repeatedly, oh merlin, if only I could see myself- I must've looked like a real drunk.
Suddenly I felt him stop, "Do you want me to put you down?"
"Yes!" I insisted with my eyes closed but I felt his stare burning right through me.
"Are you absolutely certain?" he asked mockingly.
"I-am-absolutely-certain."
Slowly I felt him rest me down the ground, the hot soil burning all the way through to my shoes, "There you go, now hurry back inside before all the food finishes." He said before walking away.
I saw his blurring vision slowly disappear although not completely, I felt everything around me intensify- the heat, the light and the continuous pulsing in my temple which sounded louder and louder with every passing moment, slowly I felt myself being pushed about by the still wind, pushing me closer and closer towards the hot ground, "Tom!" I managed to sound out before losing consciousness.
Before I saw light I felt my heart beat with fear, my forehead filled with cold sweat and my hands clutching tightly on a thin paper. I opened my eyes and saw that my vision was blurred by tears. My hands shook as I looked at the paper in my fist, I slowly unfolded it and read the words aloud.
Dearest Astrid,
The most tragic occurrences have unfortunately stumbled upon our little happy family. Yesterday after serving your kind mother lunch we received a uniformed messenger carrying the most unwelcoming white enveloped letter. I immediately called your mother to the door and as the man handed the letter to her, I saw his shaking hands pulling the brown cap off his head and pushing it towards his chest. Your father, George, has unfortunately been killed in battle. Your mother stood by the door overpowered by grief, her lips quivering from trying to contain the tears that devoured her inside.
That night your mother, Isobel, drenched her pillows with nothing but tears. We all tried comforting her. You see she loved your father very much, more than what they seem to show you, there was nothing we could do that could have aided her grief, non to keep her tears away from her cheeks nor was there a way to keep her away from the letter. She read the words over and over again, trying to find faults and errors, perhaps thinking that it was only a mean joke that your father was playing- but she knew very well that it wasn't. She wanted to be alone and so on her request I granted it.
The next morning when I delivered her hearty breakfast, I found her under the covers, her cheeks cold and pale, and her chest motionless.
If only I knew that your mother too would leave us, I wouldn't have left her side. I'm sorry to have to deliver this terrible news to you. And although I know that by now you feel as if you have lost everything, know that you will have people who love you and will always love you when you get back at the manor.
Sincerely,
Mary
"Astrid?" I heard a familiar voice calling my name, "Astrid…" she called out again as I felt my body being softly tugged.
I opened my eyes with the slightest movement and saw Glynnis' worried expression, behind her I saw the familiar wallpaper of my room, "You got me scared for a moment there, you suddenly started crying and tossing around." she said before handing me a clean cool towel, "And when I started calling your name, when you didn't respond, I thought you weren't going to wake up."
"I had the most horrible nightmare." I stated as I pushed my upper body off the bed, "Mary, my housekeeper-" I started being interrupted by a knock on the door.
Glynnis and I both looked at the door wondering who could be behind it, slowly it opened and I saw Tom Riddle holding a tray of food and water. His eyes immediately fixated on me, "I see you're already awake."
"Just leave the tray on the table." Glynnis immediately commanded.
"I can't." He said sternly before placing the tray of food on the bed side table, "Unfortunately I have to stay here until every item in this plate is consumed by Goswick."
"I'll make sure she eats it, now if you don't mind, we were in the middle of something."
"You can't stay." Tom retorted confidently.
Glynnis stood from my side and looked at Riddle with shock, "And why not?"
"Because the hag wants you." Riddle replied before opening the door for Glynnis, gesturing her to leave the room.
Glynnis turned to me, her eyes expressing anger but her lips mouthing, "I'm sorry, I'll come back later." And just like that she was gone. I looked at Tom who was now closing the door.
"Leave it open." I said faintly hoping that he would reply to my wishes, but to my dismay he kept the door closed, shut away from any form of moving figures, away from source of help if ever I needed it.
I watched him walk away proudly from the door to my study table, he leaned against it before crossing his arms, "Eat." that was all he said. I didn't know whether his intention was to actually see my health improve or to free himself from Mrs. Coles' daunting tasks.
"Do you really expect me to eat when you're standing there staring at me?"
"Yes."
"Well I can't!"
"However can you not, do you no longer know how to use your hands for eating?" he questioned pushing himself away from the table and towards the bed, then suddenly a smug smirk came running across his lips, "Or did you want me to feed you?"
I looked at him shock, I never expected sarcasm from him, well I HOPE that was sarcasm, but unfortunately it wasn't. When I saw him sit on the chair beside my bed, I came to a realisation that he was being serious.
"No I'd rather if you didn't feed me." I pleaded.
He reached for the plate of cold fruit and fork before saying, "If I can't get you to eat by yourself, then I'll have to force you eat." he said as he stabbed reddest, sweetest looking piece of watermelon.
As Tom Riddle sat beside my bed, holding the heavy fork to my mouth, I wondered whether it was a dream all over again. If ever it was, then it was by far the strangest dream I have yet to come across. My hungry eyes followed the piece of watermelon Tom Riddle was steadily holding, I wanted to open my mouth to its inviting taste but a part of me said no, partly because it was Riddle who was feeding me and the other part saying no just because its Riddle!
I looked at him intently; wanting to read his mind on whether he was playing a dirty trick or if he was actually being genuine. We looked at each other for so long that it suddenly became uncomfortable. As if regaining consciousness Tom Riddle immediately placed the fork back into the plate and handed to me, he stood up and rested by the window, "I can't believe I did that…" he whispered to himself but it was loud enough for me to hear. I saw his face contort with disbelief of his actions.
I smiled and laughed, he looked at me questioningly, "I heard what you said." I smiled at him, "It was by far the most self driven act of kindness you've ever done and you question it?" I laughed again.
"Will you just eat?" I heard him reply with a hint of anger.
"Only if you feed me." I smiled teasingly.
Oh merlin, I can't believe I just said that…
